The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-28
WHAT is A CITY,


WHAT is A CITY,
II is sometimes well for the people TO
refresh their minds by returning TO the
examination OF the fundamental principles
OF American government. Men, in the
eXigencies and boucvcrsements Of poll
teal life, often lose the threads OF theory
and confuse things. In the scheme which
the fathers wrought out with so much
care and accurate foresight, the city had
no part, Tho primordial atoms OF the
great American public are counties,
although these are generally sub
divided, for the popular convenience,
into districts, beats, or townships,
But the unit IL the county. Out
Of counties is the State made and out Of
the States he United States. II is natural,
therefore, that the people Of the counties,
concerned in national issues, should select
their county officers according 10 the parti-
san political bias OF the majority Of the in
habitants Of such county. Now, II may
happen, In the course Of the settlement OF
q new county, that an attractive water
course, or mn accessible road crossing, may
cause number OF the inhabitants Of the
county 10 fix their homes at particular
point In order that they may have easy
communication with one another they
combine TO build streets; in order
that the health Of the community
may DO preserved, they combine
TO build sewers; In order that they may
protect themselves from the spread Of fire,
they combine TO maintain distinguishing
engines; and 30 on. II would he incon-
ycnicnt for the people 10 come together
every time n sewer failed or street needed
extension, or n fire engine broke down,
and devise remedies; therefore, instead Of
such an awkward arrangement, the people
form permanent combination a corpora
ton in law---and call II "city," or, as in
the case Of Memphis, for peculiar rea-
S"nS "Aiig u's''lo'' Inc people OF
this city" or taking district" pay no
taxes to the State rs residents OF such
city or taxing district, only ~
inhabitants OF the county do they
pay taxes 10 tho State. Richard Roe has,
therefore, dual capaciiy-first, that OF
resident OF Shelby county. and, second,
that Of a member Of corporation known
on the map as Memphis. Asa resident Of
Shelby county, Richard Zoe pays his taxes
Tor the support oil tho Slatc government,
and consequently, rs such taxpayer he
cndcavon TO see that the government Of
the State Is according TO his partisan polit-
ical preferences and he docs well To vote
that way, beginning with his county
officers. But ~ Il member OF corporation
called city or taxing district, Richard
Roe has no real interest In the
politics in which the State and the United
States are deeply concerned. The city or
taxing district exists by charter from the
State, Just as an insurance or other corpo-
ration does. II is not part Of the State.
Hence, TO vote ~ Democrat, Republic
can Tree trader protectionist, green,
hacker or woman suiiragist Tor city OIL
clalS, is as absurd and anomalous M II
would be to vote Tor nm insurance or rail
road director as such political partisan
The people OF Memphis long ago learned
that to choose officers acconiing io
their national party affiliations, led
TO all manner OF evil, and